Aeroplane.



Patented Feb. 25, 1913.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J. ANDERSON.

AEROPLANE.

APPLIGATION FILED Nov. s, 1912.

W/TNESSES 4 SHEBTSSHEET 2..

J. ANDERSON.

AEROPLANE.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. s. 1912.

Patented Feb. 25, 1913.

W/TNESSES J. ANDERSON.

AEROPLANE.

APPLICATION PILnnNov. 8, 1912.

Patented Feb. 25, 1913.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WIM/8858 W R j@ mM W0 mw W D N ,Mw w E@ ATTORNEYS J. ANDERSON.

BRPLANE.

APPLICATION FILED Nov.s,1912.

PaGIl'ed Feb. 25, 1913.

ITTHNEYS UNITED sTAirEs PATENTv oFFioE.

JOHN ANDERSON, F WEST MOUNT VERNON, MAINE, ASSIGNR 0F ONE-HALF T0 G. L.

` WINTHROP, 0F TALLAHIASSEE;` FLORIDA.

AEBOPLAN E.

, Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 25, 1913.`

Application led November 8, 1912.. Serial No. 780,179.

To allailwmz'vtmay concern: I Be it known that I, JOHN' AND1-inscri, a

^ citizen of the United States, and a resident of West Mount Vernon, in the county of Kennebec and vState of Maine, have invented av new and Improved Aeroplane, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description..

Among the principal objects which the present yinvention has in view are: toprovidecarrying planes constructedf to give amaximum strength and rigidity with minimum weight;' toprovide a carrying structure manually controlled to effecta proper bal` ance of the machine; to provide means tor facilitating ,the banking of vthe machine .when turning a curve, or to yregain its equilibrium; to provide acar arranged to protect the aviatory and motor with the least 20 .in'gfdrawings forming a part of this specification in which like characters indicate .c'orresponding parts in all the views and in which: f

'Figure'l is a top lan view of yan aeroplane constructed van .arranged inV `accordancefwith the 'prentinventiom a segmentof the upper cover of `the plane` being'removedito show the rib'an struction thereof. Fig. 2 is a front` eleva.

tion lof the same, the carrying planes being exposed vin ay horizonta1posi t1on. Fig. 3,

is a similar vtiew, 'sliowi the carrying plane-' as tilted from the horizontal.' Fig. 4' is a `vertical cross-section on an enlarged scale, taken onY the line 4-4 in Fig. 1.' Fig.A 1an view. of the aviator?s. car,

5 is a top a portion o the frame"whereofl is out away to Vshow thev con`s`tru`ctionl within .the ,cari Fig. `(iis a detail view' on anellla' l in vertical cross sections, takenin ne 6-46, l Fig. 7 is a crossfsection on sca `e taken on the "i r 'ed-scale ii 8 is avert-ical cross section on the line 8 8 55 in Fig. 4, showing the car 'bod and a fragment of the carryin plane. tail view on an eni'rged scale, showing a vertical, longitudinal section taken on the line 9%-9l in 1. Fig.v 10 is a detail view 60 in verticalv cross sect-ion taken on the line.

.lO-10 in Fig. 9, showing a fragment of the carrying plane structure. Fig. 11 is a detail view in perspective, showing thel outer and free corner of the warping sections with which the aeroplane is provided.

As seen in the drawings,`the invention is shown in its adaptation to an aeroplane of the class known as monoplane. The inven t-ion adapts itself most readily to thisv style of aeroplane, butv it will be understood that it may also be'adapted to structures having two or more car ing planes.

In all designs it is` referred that the top or main plane shall transverse, tubular braces l5. The braces 15, as shown best in Figs. L3 of the drawings, are tapered roin the largest diameter at theV center of the carrying plane upward to the ends of the carrying plane, thereby accom- 80 modating the structure to what may be termed truss strains. The tubular form of the braces adapts the structure to horizontal as well as vertical strains. Auxiliary to the braces 1 5 is employed aframe 16, upoms which are conver ed, and to which are lsecured,- the taper ends of the ribs 17 andv 18, forming the skeleton of the main plane. The frame `16 is triangular in cross section,

as seen best in Fig. 3 of the drawings, and 90 is molded or. sha ed to a graceful line yto .form the forwar edge of the plane, sub-1 stantially as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings At the lateral extremes of the main plane theends of.t he-frame'16 are trailed 95 y oil to the rear.. to y form the end rib of the skeleton upon which is stretched the usual coverin '.19 and 20, which is preferably ccnstructe -fromli ht duck, silk or othe'i` suit-` able material." curedixedly to the braces 15. The braces 15. ass through perforations provided in a hol ow keelson 2.1w-ith which the structure is` provided, as best seen in Fig. 4 of the' drawings. The braces 1 5 and the frame 16, 105 areiedly secured insaid kcelson. I. 'It will be noted thatthe construction and arrangement of tlieparts forming the skelig. 9 is a' de-` e provided with the he ribs 17 and 18 arese# 100' eton of the carrying plane herein shown provides for a relatively rigid median section and relatively flexible extremes for the said carryingplane. To augmentthe iiexibility of the plane structure the .fribsf' 18 are constructed of laminated strips Tot wood separated at the rear of the braces 15, or, if constructed-from a single piece of wood, the same is sawed scarfed to form spaces 22 between the sections of the said ribs. At the end of each of the upper strips is placed a bracket 23, the upper end of which is rounded to form a nosing to rest -under the rib 17, companion to the rib 18, thus constructed, This arrangement affords `a structure which readily yields to varyin lair pressures imposed upont-he plane either above or below the same.

At the outer edge of each plane and atV the rear of the transverse median line thereof is provided awarpi section overlaid upon the covering 19 o the main plane. The warping section 24 is suitably ribbed to shape the same to normally rest upon the covering 19 of the main carrying plane. The ribs provided for this purpose are preferably rigidly connected at their forward ends with the covering 19 upon which they normally rest.

It will be understood that the normal tendency of the ribs incorporated in section 24 operate to close the said sectionclosely upon the cover 19. To hold said section in the normal position, against accidental dislodgment therefrom, provide a latch 25, which is pivotally mounted at 26 upon a bracket 27. Bracket 27 is mounted upon the rib of the section 24 disposed at theextreme of the carrying plane. v The head'28 of the latch 25 extends below the rib 18 and cover 20 thereof. See Fig. 9. The latch is normally heldin locking position by t-he sprihg`29. From this position it is moved by the light vcable 30, which is primarily drawn upon when it is desiredto warp the plane by lifting the section 24 at either end of the said plane.

The levitation of the aeroplane in flight is.

controlled by a tail plane 31. The plane 31 is preferably integrallyr formed` with the keelson 21, and, like the keelson, is constructed in hollowform. The plane 31 is rearly ilared or fanned, as seen best in Fig. 1 of the dra-wings. The sides of the plane 31 are slightly spread or separated at the rearmost edge to reinforce the construction and to receive the eyelets 32. As seen in Fig. 1 of drawings, eyelets 32 are separated to receive in spread arrangement the sling cables 33, which converge forwardly and are secured to the ring 34, to which is also connected. the cable 35, employed for lifting the rear end of the tail plane 31 when operated to that effect by the aviator.

The rear end of the tail plane 31 is depressed by the aviator Voperating the cable 36, which draws upon the eyelets 32 at the under side of the plane 31, being connected therewith by the sling cables 37 and the connecting ring 38. The cables. 35 and 36 are elevated from the normal plane of the plane 31 to facilitate the operation described by the pulleys 39 and 40 respectively. The ul-l leys 39 and 40 are rotatively mount in housings 41 and 42 formed at the junction of the keelson 21 and tail plane 31. See Figs. 4 and 6 ofthe drawings;

41 and 42 and stantially egg sha e, as shown in the drawings, the butt en of the egg shape being disposed forwardly. At the forward end of the car 45 is a hinge wing 46 extending from the surface thereof and provided at the upper edge withl a series of hinge knuckles spaced apart to receive corresponding hinge knuckles formed at the lower edge of the keelson 21. Thehinge knuckles mentioned are perforated in line to receive a hinged bolt 47. By means of this construction the car 45 is suspended from the said vkeelson and the carrvlng lane connected therewith. The 'oint forme by the hinge knuckles is su ciently elongated to prevent any disalinement of the car bod with the carrying planes. The hinge t us formed, however, permits the car to swing laterally from the keelson and planes, or the car being stationary the aviator is permitted to relatively vary the inclination of the carrying planes from the horizontal or from the perpendiculai` as Yembodying the center of gravity of the car 45. To change the relative angle ofthe car body and the carrying plane -I provide a strut 48, which is pivoted on the hinge pin 47, to extend to nearthe bottom of the car, where-it is connected to the guy lines '49 of the eyelets 50. The strut 48 is connected by the endless cable 51 to a lever 52,which is'pivotally mounted in the standards 53 adjacent the aviators seat 44. Cable `51 is threaded around pulleys 54 and 55 to lane 31, the mateseen that as tlieaviator moves the lever 52 'ment with the carrying'. plane. Y trating the result of the pull on the cable necited with thelatch 25. It will thus be forward or backward the carrying plane is changed in its angular relation to the car body; the car body being held by the weight carried thereby maintains its vertical plane and the carrying planes are shifted to vary from the horizontal. Itis equally evident that as the aviator moves the lever 56 forward or backthe warping sections 24 are lifted from the top of the main plane, the latch 25 having been disposed to remove the head 25 from engage- As illusto lift the warping section 24, attention is drawn to the dotted line construction shown in Fig. 9 of the drawings, where' in dotted lines the warping section 24 is shown as raised away from and above thetop of the main carrying plane. I

It is desired that 'in lifting the warping section 24 the extreme outer and rearmost corner of thesaidsection shall be lifted in advance of and higher than the remainder ofthe section `to form of the said sectionJ a pocket for trapping the air. With this object in view, the short connecting cables .carrying plane.

are graduated, being formed successively longer in proportion as each is connected to the cable 30 'nearer the center of lthe Thus it will be seen in Fig. 1 of the drawings, and at the right hand of the said figure, that in the normal position of the warping section 24 the cable` 30 Vis taut. lso thatv the short connecting cable 60, nearest the median line of the aeroplane, is slack, and that feach connecting cable 60 intermediate the-end section of the cable 30 and the innerl connecting cable 60 is slack but in lless degree progressively as the' saidconnectiiig cable is disposed nearer' the end of the cable 30. The result ofthis arrangement when the cable 30 is drawn upon is'illustrated at the left hand side of Fig. 1, Where it will be seen that each of the Vconnecting cables 60 is taut and thatthose nearer the endof the cable 30 and the outer .edge of the warping section'have drawn upon the war ing sectionoonnected therev with to lift tie rear edgev thereof,bowing the rib connected therewith substantially as .shown in -dotted lines at Fig. 8 of the drawings.-

.The operationl of the warping section Misunderstood to independently vary'the horizontal disposition of the carrying plane without varying the relative angle of the carrying plane and car body. In the present construction the lifting-of the warping section at either side of the carrying plane would result in depressing that side of the carrying plane., the Warpingsection being lifted above said planes. Thus, if-in iying the aeroplane shifts or loses its equilibrium ktor and rids him` of much o this may be righted by moving one or othen of the warping planes to depress the raised end of the said carrying plane.

-The sections 24 in the present construction also serve to operate as rudders. The lifting of either of the sections sufficiently would result in a drag on the aeroplane at that end of the carrying plane, and which drag being resisted only by the inertia of the'machine, turns the machine in its horizontal Hight.

The aviator when reposing on the seat 44v rests his feet on the pedals 61 and 62. The pedal 61 is connected with the cable 36,

which cable it will be remembered is above described as connected with the line 38 and the sling cables 37. The cable 36 is reeved over the pulleys 63, 64 and 40, as seen best in Fig. 4 of. drawings. By depressing the pedal 61 the aviator de resses the rear end of the tail plane 31 causing the aeroplane to dip forward.

The motor 74 is of an approved conventional construction. ounted upon the driving 'shaft 75 thereof is an aero-pro- 4peller 65. The .motor 74 land fuel tank 66 fort incident to the operation kof aeroplanes with high-power motors. u

When on the ground the aeroplane is supported 'onthe carrying wheels 71' and by the stilt 72, the wheels 71 and vthestilt 72 forming a skid for the car which permits it to move over the ground until suiiicient headway is gained to give the aeroplane its upward Hight. .When starting the car the aviator by depressing the tail plane 31 lifts the car sufficiently to remove the the discom- 100 uct supporting strain from the stilt 72 and to repose the carrying weight on the wheels 71. When .'sufcient headway` has been gained to sustain the car the aviator, by

lifting the tail plane 31, inclines the carr ing plane sutiiciently'to lift thecar from t e ground. When the' car is free from the ground the aviator, by drawing upon the cable 73, holds the stilt 72 to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4 of the drawings. When, after the flight is completed, itisdesired toY land, the aviator by releasin`g the cable 73 permits-the stilt 72 to drop into vertical position where it first contacts with the ground. 4By the engagement with the ground the stilt 72 is moved upward to the position substantially as shown at Fi 1.

aving thus described my invention, I dlaim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1 v 1. In an aeroplane, and in the carrylng plane thereof, the combination of a transversely-disposed tube; a keelson lrlgldly attached to said tube at the middle thereof; a plurality of ribs disposed transverse said tube and shaped to form upper and lower separated walls; a cover external said ribs to form the surface of said plane; a plurality of flexible cover sections overlaid on said plane at the outer edge thereofl and separated from the cover of said plane at the rear edge thereof; and means forseparating said cover sections from said plane to form warping sections therefor.

2. In an aeroplane, and in the carrying plane thereof, the combination of Aa keelson i parallel with the axis of saidv aeroplane; va

tube mounted on said keelson,` perpendicular thereto, said tube being tapered in both di- 'rections from saidkeelson; a plurality of forming ribs disposed transverse to said t-ube and separated thereby to form a hollow structure; an upper and lower external covering for said ribs to form the surface of said plane; a plurality of resilient cover sections overlaid on said plane adjacent the extreme lateral ends and rear edge thereof; and means, manually operable from. the station of the, aviator of said aeroplane, to separate said cover fro-m said plane.

3. In an aeroplane, and in the carrying plane thereof, the `combination of a keelson parallel with the axis of said aeroplane; a tubemounted on said keelson, perpendicular thereto, said'tube being tapered-in both directions from said keelson; a plurality of forming ribs disposed transverse to said tube and separated' thereby to vform a hollow structure; an up r and lower external cow ering for said ribs, to form the ysurface ofV said plane; a plurality of resilient cover sections overlaid on said plane adjacentthe extreme lateral endsfandnrear. edge thereof; and means, manually operable `from the station of the aviator of said aeroplane, `to separate said cover from saidpplane, the operating means bein adapted-to separate the outer and rearwar corner 'of said cover sections preliminary to separating the adjacent portions of V,said coveringfrom said plane to pocketthe airy at the outer end of said plane.

4. In an aeroplane and in .the carrying piane thereof, the combination of`a -keelson parallel with the; axis ofsaid aeroplane; a tube mounted on said keelson, perpendicular thereto. Vsaid tube being tapered in both direct-ions from said lieelsvon; a plurality of forming ribs disposed transverse to said tube and separated'thereby to form a hollow structure; an upper and lower external covering for said ribs to form the surface of said plane; a plurality of resilient warping sections superposed on said lane at the outer end thereof, said sections eing rigidly attached to said plane intermediate the forward and rear end, and separable from said plane adjacent the lateral and rear edge; and means, manually operable, for lifting said sections, said means operating primarily on said sect-ion at the rear of the lateral extreme thereof.

5. In an aeroplane, and in the carrying plane thereof, the combination of a keelson parallel with the axis of said aeroplane; a tube mounted on said keelson, perpendicular thereto, said tube being tapered in both di- .rectionsfrom said keelson; a plurality of forming ribs disposed transverse to said tube and separated thereby to forma hollow structure; an upper and lower external covering for said ribs to form the surface of said plane; a plurality of resilient warping sections superposed on said plane at the outer end thereof, said sections being rigidly attached to said plane intermediate the forward and rear end, and separable from said plane adjacent the lateral and rear edge; an operating cable for said sections connected directly in the outer rearmost corner of said sections and operable from the aviators car of said aeroplane; and a plurality of short cablesconnecting the rear edge 'of said sections and said operating cable, said connectin.rr cables being elongated proportionate to their removal from the outer edge of said sections to successively tighten and lift the edge of the sectionsllwhere attached.

6. Inv an aeroplane, and in the carrying `plane thereof, the combination of a keelson and separated thereby to form a hollow structure; an upper and lower external covering for said ribs to form the surfacel of said plane; a plurality of resilient warplng sections superposed on said plane, at the youter end thereof, said sections being rigidly attached to said plane intermediate the forward and rear end, and separablefrom said plane adjacent the lateral and rear edge; an o erating cable for said sections. connected directly in the outer rearrnost corner of said sections and operable from the `ayiators car of said aeroplane; a plurality of short cables connecting the rear edge of 'said sections and said operating cable, said connecting cables being elongated proportionate to `their removal from the outer edge of said sections to successively tighten and lift the edge'of the sections where attached; a lever operatively connected with said operating cable to coincidentally draw upon onev section of said operating cable and the connecting cables connected therewith while relaxing the opposite section of said operating cable and connecting cables united thereto.

7.. In an aeroplane such as described, and in the carrvlng plane thereof, the combination of a plurality of superposed forming ribs, one of sald ribs having a plurality of resilient extensions, the ends whereof bear upon the opposed rib to yieldingly maintain the separation of said ribs; framing .memribs, one of said ribs having a plurality of -tubular braces interposed between said ribs:

adjacentl the forward end thereof to form a rigid construction atthe forward edge of said plane.

8. In an aeroplane lsuch as described and in the carrying plane thereof; the com ination of a plurality of bowed wooden ribs, the lower of said ribs being longitudinally scarfed from the rear end thereof and upwardly extended to bear against the upperA JOHN 'ANDER-SON. Y

Vitnesses:

J. FRANK IwIAMisIoND, ARTHUR G. WHrrrIER. 

